TORONTO – Latrell Sprewell is the kind of player who likes to take the burden of the team’s success upon his shoulders. In other words, he’s exactly the opposite of Vince Carter, who continues to say he’s only one piece of the puzzle and should not be looked upon as the savior of the series.

Sprewell has been defending Carter all series and again was defending “Air Canada” after Charles Oakley knocked Carter, who led all scorers last night with 32 points, for being unwilling to take the responsibility of leading the Raptors out of the first round.

“I think Vince is going to have to do his part but it is a team and no one guy can do everything,” said Sprewell, who scored 24 in last night’s 100-93 Knick defeat. “It’s unfair of [Oakley] to really put that much pressure on [Carter]. The responsibility is not solely on him.”

Oakley treaded on dangerous water by ripping a teammate on the eve of a possible first-round exit. But former Raptor and Knicks point guard Mark Jackson was not surprised. “That’s Oak,” Jackson said. “To know him is to love him.”

Jeff Van Gundy, too, has been a staunch defender of Oakley’s but blames the controversy on the spread-out schedule. “Everything gets overhyped with fractures on a team,” Van Gundy said. “The time between games does nothing but lead to stuff like that.”

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Though the Knicks led the league in team defense, nobody on the Knicks made the two all-defensive teams. Sprewell got six votes. Marcus Camby (one vote) and Kurt Thomas (two votes) should also have been heavily considered for the team, according to Van Gundy. “All three of those guys should’ve been given more consideration,” Van Gundy said. . . . Sprewell on ending the series last night: “I’m not even thinking about Philly. I just want to end it.”